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@Cadenza", "Wood" is an abstract concept. "The table" is a concrete object. Placed in a normal context, "Las termitas comen madera" could mean that the teacher of biology say that "The food of the termites is any type of wood" whereas "Las termitas se comen la madera" could mean that "The f...g termites that invaded my house are destroying my furniture".
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FranMay 13 '13 at 1:42

I am not quite understand your discussions. Acutually this example is taken from "Hansel and Gretel". Does it mean that "comerse"is to emphasize the behaviour of eating wall due to hungry? So "se" here is the function of dative interest?
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CadenzaMay 11 '13 at 16:12